Donald Glover is actually thankful that he failed SNL auditions (twice)

Donald Glover's star power is undeniable. He's the rare entertainer who has managed to dominate every field in which he's attempted. He's an acclaimed actor, a TV showrunner, a stand-up comedian and a massive pop star.

One thing he is not, however, is a Saturday Night Live alum. Glover auditioned for the show on two separate occasions, and was turned down both times. It would be enough to ding anyone's sense of confidence, but rather than view it as a setback, Glover saw it as a blessing disguise. At least, he did after the fact.

Donald Glover feels like SNL would have stifled his career

During a 2023 profile with GQ, Glover claimed that being cast on Saturday Night Live would have done damage to his career in the long run. He clarified that he wasn't denigrating the sketch show, and has worked alongside several of its former cast members, but stated that he would not have been able to pursue his unique path had he been tied down to the weekly series:

"I dodged so many bullets. Me being on 'SNL' would’ve killed me... My career wouldn't have happened."

Glover may not have gotten the SNL experience firsthand, but he did get a feel for how the writers room worked when he was hired to pen jokes for 30 Rock. The sitcom was headed by former SNL member Tina Fey, and Glover felt that the vibe of the sketch show carried over.

Glover recalls SNL influence bleeding into 30 Rock

"I feel like it was kind of a thing from SNL, was fear," Glover said during a recent Hot Ones appearance. "Writers’ rooms are a scary place. I was like, Yeah, I just didn’t want any fear in my room." The structure of the 30 Rock writers room also led Glover to develop a sense of imposter syndrome. "It definitely felt like I wasn't supposed to be there," he added.

Fortunately, when it came time for Glover to run his own show, Atlanta, he was able to call upon these experiences and avoid what he didn't like. The process obviously worked, as Atlanta won a staggering seven Primetime Emmy Awards during its four season run. Plus, Glover got to host SNL in 2018.